Snow likely to fly today in northern Utah

Those dreaming of a white Christmas in northern Utah are on track to see their wishes come true.

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a snow advisory Sunday for today, Christmas Eve.

A massive, moist cold front from the Pacific is expected to blow through Utah today, dumping up to a foot of snow in some places, according to NWS. Up to 4 inches of snow is expected to accumulate in northern Utah valleys just before Santa Claus and his reindeer take to the skies.

The snow, a boon to many's vision of a perfect holiday, is expected to cause serious transportation difficulties, NWS predicts. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution, especially in open areas.

New snow, plus wind blowing old snow into the roads, could cause almost zero visibility, according to NWS.

The worst of the snow is expected to fly in the central Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains north and south of I-80, the Wasatch Mountain valleys, Cache Valley and the northern Wasatch Front.

The precipitation will add to Utah's current snowpack, which researchers are calling healthy despite Old Man Winter's sluggishness in the month of November.

Mountains surrounding Salt Lake City have between 59 percent and 104 percent of normal snowpack for this time of year, and the mountains just north of Ogden have 106 percent of normal snowpack, according to the National Water and Climate Center. Snowpack is measured by the amount of water in the snow on the ground.

Ski areas near Park City have between 48 percent and 100 percent of normal snowpack, while southern Utah slopes have almost twice as much snowpack as normal.

Despite healthy snowpacks, snow depths in Utah are, on average, below normal for this time of year, according to the center. Statewide, the lowest snow depth is in the southwest corner of Utah at just 5 percent of normal. The highest snow depth is between Provo and Salt Lake City at 50 percent of normal.